Chapter 112

[Title: My Girlfriend and Ex-Girlfriend Met…jpg]

(In the forest, a One-Eyed Frog Monster meme)

Haha, a monster came into the forest behind my house!

Of all things, it’s a Variant, so I can’t even catch it!

Where am I supposed to get food now?

[Recommended 2] [Not Recommended 12]

– Fishing!

– (Serious Elf meme)

– (So what! Elf Con)

Variant Monsters can be broadly divided into two types.

The ones that crawl out from the Wave.

And the ones that hide somewhere in nature.

If I had to argue which is worse, it’d be number 2.

“Those guys are gonna expand their forces and blow up the Wave, right?”

Unlike the Wave triggered by the Rift, number 2 literally expands its territory to attack.

What’s more troublesome is that they’re integrated into the ecosystem.

It’s one thing if it’s a volcano or underground, but if they settle in the forest like that, it’s problematic.

It hits hard for those who rely on the forest for food.

[Title: Breaking News) Joodak, You Really Have to Look]

(An image of a village burning at midnight)

(A sad-looking Frog Con)

Haha, it finally happened!

I let a monster wander in the forest out back, and it eventually came down to the village, damn it!

Can’t be helped.

Gonna engage in slash-and-burn farming now.

[Recommended 10] [Not Recommended 5]

– Lol, that jerk is the one from last time!

– Damn, why so positive? Hahaha!

– Why are you baiting with the title?

N: Author) (Thumbs-up Frog Con)

And if left alone, it’ll explode someday.

“So now’s the chance.”

Due to the nuclear impact, the monsters fled, and now was the moment to strike.

Now would be their weakest time.

– AK47 ← This guy must be dreaming if he thinks he can get it.

N: Got it, lol.

N: Steps up first.

N: For real, how do you come in first? Hahaha.

“Hmmm…”

The issue is that many people give up even before it starts, even if a reward is posted.

In that case, I just need to increase the bounty itself.

“The problem is how to encourage participation without consuming too many points…”

I can’t just hand guns to everyone as rewards.

Instead, what I thought of was…

– Damn it, why isn’t Spicy Tuna available?

– 132 days since the Spicy Tuna re-release wish.

– Haha, Joodak is intentionally pretending not to see.

– Please release Spicy Tuna… it’s been a long wish…

“This is it.”

It was Spicy Tuna.

*

[Title: Breaking News) Joodak, You Seriously Have to Look]

(An image of a bathroom at home)

Yup, Joodak, did you come in?

I’ll give you exactly three days!

I can’t hold back any longer, yup.

If you don’t release Spicy Tuna at the marketplace by then, you’ll witness my excrement.

[Recommended 1] [Not Recommended 42]

– Lol, the Deputy is in serious trouble.

– No access to posts in three days.

– This guy is scarier than the ones threatening to kill and do whatever.

N: For real, this guy seems like he might actually do it.

What is Spicy Tuna?

It’s an intensely stimulating and spicy food.

The perfect upgrade from a tuna can.

– Why can’t you just release it!!!

– For real, if you don’t release it, you’re done for!

The problem is, it’s not being sold.

Even with loud cries to sell, Joodak didn’t release it.

[1. One-Eyed Frog (Variant)]

(Sighting of a One-Eyed Frog image)

Location – Southwest marshes of Adrian

Reward – 5 Spicy Tuna cans

In the meantime, a post appeared.

It said catching that monster would reward you with 5 Spicy Tuna cans.

“I must catch it.”

Monster hunter Jade came to Adrian with a determined expression.

He was a hunter who had no affiliation with any groups.

The simple reason he became a monster hunter was clear.

“I’m just tired of everything now.”

He was sick of the world.

After the Great War, he lost everything.

He had no home, family, or friends left.

For him, there was only one remaining life goal.

To eat the food from the marketplace; new products.

“I will definitely eat Spicy Tuna.”

I will engrave that taste into my mind.

Even if I die tomorrow, just being able to get Spicy Tuna today would be enough.

– Rustle.

At that moment, the grass nearby moved.

“Who’s there?!”

Jade immediately pulled back his bowstring tightly.

In response to his shout, a figure in armor emerged with both hands up—an unknown knight.

“Calm down. I’m a hunter too.”

“Hmm.”

Sharing the same profession made him slightly ease his guard.

As the tension relaxed, the knight proposed.

“How about we form a party? I too have come to acquire Spicy Tuna.”

“Hmmm… sounds good.”

One is better than two.

It creates an escape route if they get tied up with the Frog Monster.

They shook hands, sealing the formation of the party.

– Rustle.

Nearby, the grass once again moved.

“Who’s over there again?!”

Jade and the knight both aimed their weapons.

Then, from the grass, a blonde elf with perked long ears peeked out curiously.

“…A pointy-eared?”

“Long-eared pest?”

Why was an elf from Elard, which is far northwest, in Adrian?

“What? How rude!”

“What is an elf doing here?”

“…I’m curious about the taste of Spicy Tuna.”

Jade had heard of it.

It was said that the self-proclaimed young elves from Elard go out to explore the world.

The elf fidgeted with its ears and cautiously asked.

“This could be fate; would you care to form a party with us?”

“Hmmm.”

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful?”

Yeah, well… three is better than two.

It’s a bit disappointing that Spicy Tuna cans would be shared, but it’s better than dying without tasting it.

“Sure, why not.”

Thus, an impromptu party was formed.

– Boom!

At that moment, there was a thunderous explosion nearby.

It seemed there was an intense battle with the Variant Monster occurring close by.

“We’ll miss it at this rate!”

“Let’s hurry and join them.”

A magician might be hunting the Variant Monster.

The three rushed through the forest.

– Boom!

– Rustle, thud!

The sounds of battle became oddly frequent.

‘Were there this many guests in the forest?’

I had heard it was a seldom-invaded place for the Variant Monster.

“!”

Then the three were taken by surprise.

What lay before them was the One-Eyed Frog Variant Monster…!

Along with several fighters and

A party of knights,

And an elf archer perched atop a tree.

“And why are there so many?!”

Along with a melee hunter in gauntlets,

And plenty of others.

And all of these parties locked eyes with Jade’s newly formed group.

– Gruuurrk!!!

In the center, the One-Eyed Frog was under relentless attack and screamed like a nightmare.

Damn, make it stop!

It looked as if it were saying that.

*

Spicy Tuna doesn’t cost much.

“Not too shabby, huh?”

When it comes to price comparison, it isn’t that different from a tuna can.

In the first place, tuna can products tended to be discounted below cost at the shop.

So buying in bulk wouldn’t be much of a hit.

Still, Spicy Tuna was never sold. Why?

[Title: One-Eyed Frog Monster Hunt Success Image.jpg]

(An image of a hunted monster and numerous hunters)

But why are so many gathered?

Damn, it’s dizzying! Hahaha.

[Recommended 1312] [Not Recommended 52]

– Wow, are we holding a club meeting?

– But they give you 5 Spicy Tuna cans!

N: Now we’ll have to kill each other.

N: Hahaha, how many need to die for this?

“Quality’s guaranteed.”

It’s precisely because of its rarity.

[One Spicy Tuna Can] – 2p.

It was only 2p based on shop standards.

Yet, since it wasn’t being sold, the market price became whatever they desired.

– Selling) One Spicy Tuna can for sale.

N: Here’s my offer.

N: Starting from 1,000 Mana Pills.

N: ? Damn, who buys that? Are you crazy? Hahaha.

N: I’ll buy it.

N: I’ll pay 1,200.

N: I’ll put an extra 100 on top of what the last guy offered.

N: ?

They deliberately did not restrict resale prices even though they were crossing the line within the gallery.

The more they played, the better it became to utilize.

As a food source for survival, there were standard tuna cans, so Spicy Tuna was strictly a luxury item.

In terms of luxury goods rather than survival, I had no intention of selling at a lower price.

In fact, I aimed to amplify that market.

N: Juddakimzz) I’ll buy it for 3,000.

N: Author) The market’s complete.

N: Ahhh, damn it!

N: Juddakimzz ← This guy keeps competing for Spicy Tuna in the auction, damn it.

After boosting the product’s value extensively.

I only opened it through the bounty system.

[Notice: Warning on Spicy Tuna Resellers]

Author: Joodak*

It’s been a while, haha.

Looking closely, prices have been skyrocketing.

Last time, I saw someone buy it for 3,000.

Since the absurdity has gotten serious, I’ll stop it.

[Recommended 5232] [Not Recommended 121]

– Ah!!! Damn!!!

N: Why is this guy acting like this?

N: Judging by recent posts, it looks like he’s raising prices and got slapped with sanctions immediately, haha.

N: Lmao.

And concurrently, I drafted a notice to establish a justification for the re-seller sanctions.

Now all that remained was to watch the activated bounty system from the sidelines.

[Notice: Hunting List for Creation]

1. Bone Dragon (Details)

2. Giant Murder Centipede (Details)

.

.

– Recruiting for Number 1 Slayer Party.

– Additional Variant Monster report.

– Need a magician for number 2 hunt.

N: 11.

N: Please tell me your series/main skills.

N: Ground/Earth Rock Tossing Fast.

N: Lol.

– Jade) Variant Monster/One-Eyed Frog/Hunt confirmation images. Hunting confirmed.

N: Joodak*) Confirmed.

N: Wait, I caught it too!

N: Why didn’t I get anything even though I did?

Of course, issues concerning reward distribution could arise when several people hunted simultaneously.

However, this too could be resolved with the system’s search function.

[Hunted One-Eyed Frog Variant Monster]

A total of 24 wounds were present.

Lacerations – 21

Burns – 3

Contribution Rank 1 – Jade and 2 more from the party.

Contribution Rank 2

.

.

“Clear as day.”

[5 Spicy Tuna cans have been dispatched!]

I delivered the promised rewards to the respective party.

[10p has been deducted.]

“This is a bit disappointing though…”

Of course, my points were consumed.

The bounty system had a great advantage in increasing people’s participation in monster hunting.

But the biggest downside was the point expenditure.

Even worse than the shop’s function, which could be converted into Mana Pills.

“This is all for the sake of the gallery, though.”

I thought it an investment for the gallery’s future, yet I still felt somewhat disappointed.

After all, it’s just 10p now, but the amount I would need to pay out as rewards would only increase over time.

Though I had anticipated such losses.

It was about time I thought about the points I might spend monthly.

[The One-Eyed Frog Monster has been hunted.]

[A reward has been issued.]

“What?”

An unexpected gallery notification flew in.